A piece of land at the corner of Autrey Mill Road and Buice Road in Johns Creek was approved for development of a 14-lot subdivision at the Johns Creek council meeting Monday. The case has seen both opposition and acceptance from various people in the surrounding community, and council voted unanimously to approve the plan with some stating it provided a transition between different surrounding densities.

The lot was originally zoned AG-1, intended for lots with no more than one home per acre. This followed the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. Plans for the proposed subdivision have evolved from a much higher density down to 14 lots with green space.

The land was rezoned for slightly higher density than the original AG-1, and some council members voiced opinions that the density did not change the character area and provides transition.

“Typically when we look at this Comprehensive Land Use Plan, I don’t deviate a lot from it,” said Post 6 Councilwoman Bev Miller. “The real question in my mind is does this change the character area of this pastoral area … I’m thinking this does provide that transition.”

Post 3 Councilwoman Karen Richardson echoed that opinion, saying she did not think the plan “mars what the intent was in this are. I think it actually fits with the intent of this area.”

There was concern both from people who spoke in opposition to the plan and some council members that going against the land use plan with this decision would set a precedent future developers could point to to go against the plan in the future, but Mayor Mike Bodker said he did not feel a precedent was set.

“I do not believe this is precedent setting,” he said. “I don’t think we’ll find another piece of property that is in this shape along two roads taking up what looks like 90 percent of the frontage … I think that makes it very unique.”

There was also concern from the council that if it was developed with the original zoning there could be several single lots developed with up to nine or 10 curb cuts along either Buice Road, Autrey Mill Road or a mixture of the two.

*We welcome your comments on the stories and issues of the day and seek to provide a forum for the community to voice opinions. All comments are subject to moderator approval before being made visible on the website but are not edited. The use of profanity, obscene and vulgar language, hate speech, and racial slurs is strictly prohibited. Advertisements, promotions, spam, and links to outside websites will also be rejected. Please read our terms of service for full guides